Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers top the list of prospective teams for Ray Allen – NBA News
Only a few days after it was reported that the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are eyeing the services of Ray Allen for next season, there are rumours that Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers are at the
top of the list for the phenomenal sharp shooter.
Allen is all set to be a free agent this summer and has hinted at a possible return to the Celtics team, if they give him a new contract. However, it looks quite unlikely that Allen will return to the Celtics squad as they look
towards the future and start a rebuilding process centred around Rajon Rondo.
Moreover, when Allen missed 15 games at the end of the regular season with an ankle injury, Avery Bradley took his spot. Bradley continued to pay in the starting five even after Allen had returned, and Allen had to come off the
bench. Bradley is presently out with a shoulder injury but will be back healthy next season.
In his presence, it is unlikely Allen will be able to retain his starting position, and his services could better be utilized in a different team. ESPNNewYork.com reported today;
“If the Celtics don’t pan out for Allen, Sports Illustrated’s NBA writer Chris Mannix was told that the Knicks and Heat are at the top of his list. But a source very familiar with Allen’s situation told ESPNNewYork.com that the
Heat, as well as potentially the Clippers, will be more attractive to the five-time All-Star in the offseason because they’re top teams that can offer more than the veteran’s minimum of $1.4 million. That will likely be the Knicks’ spending limit for free
agents.”
Ray Allen is a prolific shooter and one of the best three point shooters in the history of the NBA. This past season, he averaged 45.8% from the three point line, the 4th best in the NBA for the season.
The Knicks and the Heat could use a player of his calibre to spread the floor and make the defence come out. The absence of a good shooter from the Miami line up exposed their offense in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder,
where the Heat were closed out in the final period and could not score from the perimeter.
The Knicks have a similar issue, with Carmelo Anthony and Jeremy Lin great penetration players and Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler good players inside the paint. However, they also do not have a solid shooting option.
The Los Angeles Clippers have some room in their salary cap as they look to further strengthen their team after a successful season where they reached the 2nd round of the Western Conference. Chris Paul is excellent
at point guard but a solid shooter will make for a great combination and can increase the Clippers chances of success in the coming season.
Tags: